I am new here

[lectricgenius]

Hello all. Well let me say that after thinking about it quite a bit, I now realize that I had symptoms of MS for at least 5 months prior to being diagnosed with it. You know, small things like intolerance to heat, etc. Then last October I started having vision problems. The only way to appropriate way to describe it is to say that the upper quadrant of my vision was gone. I basically could only see what was out in front of me, and nothing above that I could see.

To make a long story short I had a stroke on October 27, and as soon as I got to the hospital they told me I had MS. This is where my story goes bad. Up until this time I was fine, I could still walk, talk, etc. Well that was on a Friday. They gave me steroids for the MS. When I awoke Saturday, I couldn't move my left arm or even talk. So I spent two months in the hospital to be able to talk and walk again.

So, that is my story. Now I am on Tysabri which was started in March.

[Karazhan]

The only way to appropriate way to describe it is to say that the upper quadrant of my vision was gone. I basically could only see what was out in front of me, and nothing above that I could see.

Welcome to Tims, Lectric though I'm sorry for the circumstances that brought you here. The vision problems you describe are the same that happened to me and led to my dx. I've read many accounts of blurry or double vision but very few in which a portion of the vision field is just gone. It was the area left of my focal point that was missing (both eyes). I couldn't describe it very well for a day or two, I just knew that something was wrong with my vision until I looked up at my son who was wearing a t-shirt with:
Bass
Pro
Shops
What I saw was ass ro hops, that was from a quick glance, if I shifted my focal point to the left, I could see the B, P and S. I could still read text but it took me so much longer to get through a paragraph. I didn't drive during that time because moving objects that were shifting in and out of the void zone made me very disoriented. It was a scary time but it did clear up after about 2 months.
How are you feeling now?
Kara

[lectricgenius]

My vision is fine. Not as good as it once was but it is sure 20/20 (used to be 20/10 then went to 20/15 in the last few years, no at 20/20). The biggest problem I have these days is with fatigue and balance. And, I just started taking ampyra which seems to cure the fatigue aspect of this. Nothing I can do about the balance issue though. The other thing that bothers me is progressive muscle weakness. It is definitely crazy. Things I did just before my stroke like tighten bolts, etc I cannot take them off now without a whole lot of leverage tools (cheater pipes)

[cat67]

Not to be negative, but that really sucks. I've just recently been diagnosed with ms. Prescribed prednisone(steroid), made me violently ill. First time in my life thought I was going to die. Terrible feeling. Well, only took it for 5 days, thank god. Only thing now is I have so many things wrong with me. Fast progressing ms. Don't know what to do about all this. 3 months ago all this started and I don't understand it all . Hard to move, aches and pains never felt before. This is insane!!!
I think I'll go to the ms society and see if they can help me figure all this out. My neurologist doesn't help me figure it out, just wants to pump me full of pills, etc... After my experience with prednisone, I'm too scared to try more drugs.
Hope you have a spectacular day!!!

[lectricgenius]

Well, there are many meds u can take for ms, including the first ever pill which will be out later this year. Where r u at? Can u find another neuro?